2019 BTUSFMS #5 – Going With The Flow

August 29 | Monterey

Taiji works as a martial art by disarming adversarial conditions–internally and externally. One of the ways it does this is by reading and adapting to the energy of the moment–not fighting it, but going with the flow, without losing your self or your balance.

I’ve been riding with three other riders with similar rhythm, cadence, and strength. But this morning, a short day on the road, several others left camp at the same time, and for 30 minutes or so, we maintained a pace line at better than 20 mph.

But then we started coming to local breakfast spots, fruit stands, and food trucks, and the pace line became an exploration of California agribusiness and cuisine.

We got to camp, slower and heavier than when we left this morning. But happy to be alive and here.

The point of these rides isn’t to reach the end. First, of course, it’s to raise funds and awareness in support of MS research and those living with it. And for us riders, it’s about staying in the moment, accepting the gifts and challenges as they come, and realizing that it’s all a gift.

Just like the secret of climbing hills is to not try to reach the top before you get there, so the secret to these rides is to not try to get to San Diego (or wherever) until we arrive.

Go with the flow. It’s more than enough.

To learn more about Bike The US For MS, visit biketheusforms.org.